By Jack Kaskey (Bloomberg) Chemical companies are pressing federal officials to spend billions of dollars on a coastal flood control system near Houston to protect petrochemical plants, oil refineries and shipping infrastructure from the next hurricane.
The coastal spine, as the project is called, is among the most important infrastructure investments needed to mitigate … [Read more...]

HOUSTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Dense fog halted vessel traffic along the Houston Ship Channel, idling at least 50 vessels in or near the 53-mile (85-km) waterway that leads to the busiest U.S. petrochemical port, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Thirty-seven ships on Tuesday were waiting to enter the channel and 13 waiting to exit from the port of Houston, one of the nation's most … [Read more...]

The International Maritime Organization has awarded the 2017 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea to two Houston ship pilots for their role in preventing a major disaster when the ship they were piloting broke down and burst into flames in the Houston Ship Channel.
The Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is the IMO's highest honor for bravery at sea.
The two pilots - … [Read more...]

HOUSTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The Houston Ship Channel, which links the busiest U.S. petrochemical port to the Gulf of Mexico, reopened on Monday afternoon after a fire-damaged ship blocking the waterway was moved to a berth, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The channel was blocked for about an hour after the small tanker Jo Kiri reported smoke in its engine room, according to the … [Read more...]

Kirby Inland Marine has agreed to pay $4.9 Million in civil penalties to settle claims stemming from a 4,000-barrel oil spill in the Houston Ship Channel after one of its oil barges collided with a cargo ship in March 2014, the U.S. Justice Dept. and Coast Guard announced Tuesday.
The company has also agreed to implement a fleet-wide improvement program, which … [Read more...]

Update: The Coast Guard Captain of the Port reopened the Houston Ship Channel to all vessel traffic at 3:31 p.m. Tuesday.
The Upper Houston Ship Channel was closed at 12:08 a.m., immediately following a bunker fuel spill and fire from the Aframax River, an 810-foot tanker.
"This incident could have been much worse, but was mitigated due to the prompt and effective … [Read more...]

A tanker fire caused by a bunker fuel leak closed a 1 mile section of the Houston Ship Channel overnight as crews worked to contain the spill and extinguish the fire.
The Coast Guard closed the Houston Ship Channel to all traffic for 1 mile stretch southwest of the Battleship Texas State Historic site, between the Cargill facility and the Cemex … [Read more...]